Mail-catcher.



W. D. WALTON.

MAIL OATCHBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. so, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24. 1908.

2 BHBBTSSHEET l.

m r n i a Z Z 5 QM K b w O u l o ,R w & wNA/ w 1 K 3 N N N "N wm w l f \N 5 o .& m o %N Q6 9 N N. N \k N. MW NQN 5 15.: E m U T, ,l @WE a .jjg? M 1 Nx M7 Grimm pivoted to a post 6.

WILLIAM D. WALTON, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

MAIL-OATOHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed March so, 1905. sum No. 424,225.

The present invention has for its object to devise means for taking up mail by moving trains without subjectin the sacks or containers to the strain an wear incident to similar devices generally provided for this purpose.

The invention contemplates a catcher which shoots the mail into the car, said;

catcher being so arranged as to automatically move within the car and to trip an automatically closing door which shuts the opening 5 I so as to be operated thereby when the catcher through which the mail enters.

For a full tion and the merits uire a knowledge of thereof and also to acthe details of construction and the means for effecting the result, de-

reference is to be had to the following scri tion and accompanying drawings.

1le the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departin from the spirit or essential features thereo still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 1s a view of the appliance as seen-from the inner side of the car. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on the line a:-m of orresponomg and like parts are referred to in the follow' description and indicated in all the views o the drawings by the'same reference characters.

The mail car is provided in a side with an opening adapted to be closed by means of a door 1 which is automatic in 0 adapted to be held open by suitable means which are tripped when the catcher is actuated to permit the door to close. The door 1 is mounted to slide and is normally held closed by means of springs 2 which are of the coil type, two springs being employed and arranged so as to prevent binding of the door in its guides. A kee art} is provided upon the inner side of the cor near its outer end and has a notch or depression 4 to receive the projecting end of a latch 5 which is The inner end of the understanding of the inven- I the im act of the Springs ration and' shown' at 20, to

keeper inclines, as shown at 7, for the projectmg end of the latch 5 to ride upon in the opening of the door, said latch entering the notch or de ression 4: after clearing the inclined part of the keeper and holding the door ooen against the tension of the'springs 2. A has er 8 is secured to the post 6 and holds the hatch in place and directs the same in its movements. A bell crank 9 is pivoted to a post 10 oriother suitable support and its horizontal arm extends beneath the latch 5, whereas its vertical arm projects-across the path of a lever 11 pivote to an arm 12 secured to thepost 6, orin any other convenient :1 spring 13 cooperates with the lever 11 to hold it in a normal position, which is with its outer end in the path of the catcher moves Within the car after being tripped by mail received thereby. The bel crank 9 and lever 11 constitute a trip mechanism for shooting release of the door to permit the automatic closing thereof. The catcher consists of an'oblong frame 14 'pivoted intermediate of its ends to a side of the car near the jamb of the door opening against which the door 1 closes. A rod 15 assed through 0 enings in the upper and ower bars of the 'ame 14, has its projecting endrportions mounted in plates 16 secure to the upper and lower timbers of the car. 17 mounted upon the rojecting ends of therod 15 have one end in engagement with the frame 14 and the opposite end in engagement with the respective plates 16 and normally serve to swing the receiving end of the catcher into the ear; A series of stout wires or rods 18 extend lengthwise of the frame 14 and are spaced apart and have connection at their extremities with the end bars of said frame and intermediate of their ends The elements'18 close the and lower the impact with the rod 15. space formed between the upper bars of the frame 14 and receive of thebag or other mail to be taken up by the moving car. The wires or rods 18 are bent about the rod 15 and are held separated by spacing sleeves 9 sli u on said rod 15. The portion if thd a t che in front of the rod 15 curves longitudinally, whereas the end portion in the rear of the rod 15 is strai ht. The end rtions' of the wires or rods 8, in the rear of the rod 15, are inwardly humped, as form an abutment to arrest container holding the the momentum of the mail bag and direct the same into the center of the car.

To prevent the mail bag, or container, dropping after being taken up by the catcher, a su port is provided about in the plane of the ower edge of the front portion of the catcher, said su port consisting of a series of Wires or IOCS 21 havin connection at their front ends with the front portion of the lower bar of the frame 1- and having connection at their rear ends "with a bar 22 projected inward from the catcher frame andihaving its outer end connected by a stayiuzl-l to the inner or re'ar end of the catcher. The catcher, when not adjusted to receive mail from a station, lies close against the inner side of the car so as to be out of the way. WVhenpositioned to receive mail, the catcher inclines to the side of the car with its front portion projected through the door opening and is maintained in this position bymeans of holders 24 which consist of sprmg arms connected at one end to the upper and lower timbers of the car and having hooks 25 at their free ends to engage with the inner end of the catcher. Brackets 26 attached to the upper and lower timbers of the car, have their outer ends bent, as shown at- 27, to form stops to engage with the inner portion of the catcher and limit the turning thereof when moving the same into operativeposition; The bent ends or stops 27 also sustainthe shock incident to the-impact of the mail With the catcher. Bell cranks 28 are pivoted to the inner portion of the catcher and their horizontal arms extend acrossthe path of the holders 24 so as to efiect disengagement, thereof from the catcher. A trip is provided upon the front portion of the catcher to be engaged by the mail bag or container, said trip conslsting of a shaft having an inner crank portion 29 and outer crank portions 30. Rods 31 connect the crank portions 30 of the trip or crank shaft with the vertical members of the bell cranks 28. The trip or crank shaft normally stands with the crank portion 29 away from the catcher and across the path of the mail to be engaged thereby so as to operate the bell cranks 28 and effect disengagement of the holders 24 from the catcher. which latter is swung inward by means of the springs 17 in the manner stated. A. spring 32 cooperates with. the trip or crank shaft and normally holds it in a given position. l i

\Vhen the door 1 is open the springs 2 are stretched or subjected to tension, said door bcin held in open position by means of the latch 5 and keeper 3 in the lminner stated. The catcher is turned upon the rod 15 which forms an axis therefor so that its front portion projects through the door opening. As the catcher is swung outward it engages with the end of the lever 11 facing the door opening, said lever moving to permit the catcher to clear the same without operating the bell crank 9. The movement of the catcher is limited by the stops or bent ends 27 of the brackets 26 and at this instant the hooked ends 25 of the holders 24 engage therewith and hold the catcher in operative position. The mail to be delivered to the passing train is adapted to be suspended froma crane atone side of the track in a manner well understood, and in position to be'engagcd by the projecting end of said catcher. As the train passes the station, the catcher takes up the mail which slides along the catcher and operates the inner crank 29 of the trip, which in turn releases the holders 24 and permits the catcher toswing inward out of the way. As the catcher moves inward. it comes in contact With the lever 11 and the latter in turn operates the bell crank Qand releases the latch 5 from the keeper 3, thereby permitting the door to automatically close by the action of the springs 2 in the manner stated. Rubber blocks 33 are arranged near the inner side of the car for the inner or rearend of the catcher to strike and thereby relieve the shock incident to the return of the same to normal position.

To prevent the mail bag, package orthe like shooting across the carwhen taken up by the catcher, a fender '34 is located opposite the door opening and a short distance therefrom. This fender consists of a frame and a filling of rods or bars, said frame being firmly secured to the floor of the car about asindicated.

Ha ring thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is: V i

1. In means for receiving mail, the combination of a movable catcher, an automatically closing door, a latch for holding said door open, and a trip mechanism actuated by the said catcher to efi'ect release of the door to permit thesame to close.

2. In means applied to a car for receiving mail, the combination of a movable catcher, an automatically closing door, a latch for holding said door open, abell crank having a one member extended across the path' of sai latch, and a lever arranged to engage with the other member of said bell crank and adapted to be actuated'by the said catcher to effect release of the door and permit the same to close.

3. In means for receiving mail, a catcher comprising an oblong frame having its receiving portion" longitudinally curved and the opposite end portion approximately straight, spaced wires connected at their extremities to the end portions of the catcher frame and having the end portions cor-, responding tothe receiving end of the catcher longitudinally curved, and the opposite end portions corres ending to the straight portion of the catcl' ier frame humped.

4. In means for receiving mail, the combination of an oblong frame having its front portion curved and its rear portion straight,

a rod supported near its ends in the u per and lower bars of said frame, longitu inal wires having their extremities connected to the end bars of the frame and bent intermediate of their ends into eyes to receive the aforesaid rod, and sleeves slipped-upon the said rod and between the wires to prop erlg placethe same. i

In combination with a mail car, a catcher pivoted thereto between its ends, and stops connected with the car and adapted to engagewith the rear portion of the catcher to limit the movement of the same when thrown outward into operative osition and to sustain the inward impact 0 the mail when received by said catcher.

6. In combination with a mail'car, a pivoted catcher, and holders connected with the car and adapted to engage with opposite edge portions of the catcher to secure the same when moved into operative position.

7. In combination, a pivoted catcher, up per and lower holders for fixing the position of the catcher when in operative position, a trip mounted upon the catcher and adapted to be actuated by the mail when taken up by the catcher, and connections between'the trip and said upper and lower holders to effect simultaneous disengagement of the said holders from the catcher.

8. In combination, a pivoted catcher, up per and lower sto s to engage with and limit the movement 0 the catcher when swung i into operative position, upper and lower holders for securing the catcher against i movement in either direction when in operative position, it catcher and adapted to be actuated by the mail taken up thereby, and connections bel tween said trip and holders to efiect simultaneous disengagement of the holders from the catcher.,

9; In combination, a pivoted catcher, spring means for holding said catcher in normal position, holding means for securing the catcher in operative position against the action of the a oresaid spring means, a hell crank for effecting release of the catcher, and a trip adapted to be actuated by the mail delivered to the catcher lo efiect release of the latter. 10. In combination, a pivoted catcher, spring means for holding the same in normal position, upper and lower holders for fixing the position of the catcher when thrown into operative position, upper and lower bell cranks, and a trip mounted upon the catcher and consisting of an inner crank portion to be engaged by the mail delivered to the catcher, and outer crank portions having connection with the aforesaid bell cranks to o erate the same and effect release of the hol ers from the catcher. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM D. WALTON. [1.. s1

\Vitnesses:

FRED L. FOSTER, Man's-roan M. PRICE.

a trip mounted upon the 

